Countess Julia Hauke, Princess of Battenberg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Julia Hauke, Princess of Battenberg; Credit – Wikipedia

Julia Hauke, Princess of Battenberg was the wife of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine, and the founder of the Battenberg branch of the Grand Ducal family of Hesse and by Rhine. She was born Julia Therese Salomea Hauke on November 24, 1825, in Warsaw, Poland, the youngest daughter of Count Johann Moritz Hauke and Sophie Lafontaine. Among her ten siblings was a sister Catarina who later became the mistress of Paul Friedrich, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Julia’s father was a distinguished soldier, serving with Napoleon’s Polish Legions, and then with the armies of Poland and the Duchy of Warsaw. He joined the army of Congress Poland in 1814, reaching the rank of General in 1828. In 1829, Nicholas I, Emperor of All Russia appointed him Deputy Minister of War of Congress Poland. The following year, he was killed during the November Uprising of 1830. While riding beside the carriage carrying his wife and younger children, Hauke encountered a group of rebel cadets who wanted him to lead them in their revolt. He rebuked them and ordered them back to their quarters. Instead, they opened fire on him, killing him almost instantly. His wife, suffering from shock, died soon afterward, and their younger children – including Julia – were made wards of the Russian Emperor.

Empress Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. source: Wikipedia

Raised at the Russian Imperial Court, Julia later became a lady-in-waiting to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, the wife of the future Alexander II, Emperor of All Russia. The Grand Duchess was born Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine, and was the younger sister of Julia’s future husband Alexander. He had accompanied his sister to Russia for her wedding in 1841, became close to his new brother-in-law, and decided to stay in Russia. Alexander became a prominent member of the Imperial Court and served in the Russian military. The Emperor considered Alexander as a possible husband for one of his nieces, but Alexander had already fallen in love with Julia. The Emperor refused to allow a marriage between them, but the couple was determined to marry. Eloping from St. Petersburg, they made their way to Breslau in Silesia, where they married on October 28, 1851. At the time, Julia was already six months pregnant with their first child.

Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine. source: Wikipedia

As their marriage was morganatic, Julia did not become a Princess of Hesse and by Rhine. Instead, her brother-in-law, Grand Duke Ludwig III of Hesse and by Rhine, created her Countess of Battenberg, with the style Illustrious Highness. Her children took their titles from her, becoming Counts and Countesses of Battenberg. Seven years later, the Grand Duke elevated Julia and her children to the rank of Prince/Princess, with the style Serene Highness. However, they remained ineligible for the Grand Ducal throne.

Julia and Alexander had five children:

Julia (far left) with some of her family, c1864. source: Wikipedia.  (seated L-R: Princess Elisabeth of Prussia, wife of Prince Karl of Hesse and by Rhine; Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine, Empress Maria Alexandrovna of Russia; Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, later Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine) (standing L-R: Julia, Princess of Battenberg; Prince Karl of Hesse and by Rhine; Prince Heinrich of Hesse and by Rhine; the future Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse and by Rhine; Gustav, Prince of Vasa; Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine)

Julia and her husband returned to the Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, where they lived at the Alexander Palace in Darmstadt, and later at Schloss Heiligenberg in nearby Jugenheim. However, Alexander received a commission from the Austrian Army, and they spent many years in Austria and Italy, depending on where he was stationed. For this reason, each of their children was born in a different place.

In the foreground, the graves of Alexander and Julia; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Julia’s husband died in 1888 and was buried in the Grand Ducal Mausoleum in the Rosenhöhe in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in the German state of Hesse. However, as Julia was not of equal rank, she would not be permitted to be buried beside him. Therefore, she oversaw the construction of a new mausoleum, built in the grounds of Schloss Heiligenberg. Upon the completion of the new mausoleum, Alexander’s remains were moved there in 1894. The following year, On September 19, 1895, Julia died at Schloss Heiligenberg at the age of 69. She was buried beside her husband in the mausoleum on the grounds of their beloved Heiligenberg. In 1902, the mausoleum was converted to a memorial chapel, and the remains of Julia and Alexander were moved to graves just outside the building.

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Dutch Royal Christenings

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

The Dutch royal family are members of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. It was formed in 2004 by the merger of the Dutch Reformed Church, the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Netherlands. Queen Máxima, the wife of the current monarch King Willem-Alexander, was born in Argentina and was raised as a Roman Catholic. She retained her religion after her marriage but her children were christened as members of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands.

Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk; Credit – By Ralf Roletschek (talk) – Fahrradtechnik auf fahrradmonteur.de – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10439163

Originally a Roman Catholic church, the Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk in The Hague, the Netherlands – in English, The Great Church or St. James’ Church – has been the site of quite a number of christenings of the House of Orange in the 17th and 18th centuries and also some recent christenings and weddings. The church was founded in the late 13th century and was probably a wooden church. The present church was built in stages between the 14th and 16th centuries.

Domkerk in Utrecht; Credit – Von Massimo Catarinella – Eigenes Werk, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7702712

Some members of the Dutch royal family were christened at the Domkerk in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The church was originally a Roman Catholic church but since 1580 it has been Protestant. Its tower is the highest church tower in the Netherlands.

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Queen Juliana of the Netherlands

Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Beatrix (see below)

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Princess Irene of the Netherlands

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Princess Irene, in the carriage, with her sister Princess Beatrix

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Princess Margriet of the Netherlands

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Princess Christina of the Netherlands

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Princess Christina being held by her sister Princess Irene with her godfather Winston Churchill and her mother Queen Juliana

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Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

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Beatrix with her parents

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King Willem-Alexander (see below)

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Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau

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Prince Friso with his parents on his christening day
  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau
  • Parents: Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus, born Claus von Amsberg
  • Born: September 25, 1968, at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, the Netherlands
  • Christened: December 28, 1968, at the Domkerk in Utrecht, the Netherlands
  • Names: Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David
  • Godparents:
  • Because of an issue with his fiancée, the decision was made not to request formal consent from the Dutch parliament for the marriage. Because of this, Prince Friso relinquished his rights to the Dutch throne and his title of Prince of the Netherlands. He retained his personal title of Prince of Orange-Nassau.

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Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands

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Prince Constantijn with his mother

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King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

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Willem-Alexander being held by his mother as his father looks on

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Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange

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Amalia being held by her mother as her father looks on

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Princess Alexia of the Netherlands

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Alexia being held by her mother as her father and sister Amalia look on

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Princess Ariane of the Netherlands

Ariane_christening

Ariane’s sisters and cousins at her christening!!! Photo Credit – http://37.media.tumblr.com

Ariane_godparents_family

A more subdued photo of Ariane’s family and her godparents; http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com

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Marquess and Marchioness

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

The Coronet of a Marquess. photo: By SodacanThis W3C-unspecified vector image was created with Inkscape. – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10963961

Marquess is the second-highest title in the British peerage, holding precedence following Dukes, in order of creation. Currently, there are 55 Marquessates, held by 51 people. For 34 of them, Marquess is their senior title, while the others are subsidiary titles of Dukes.

The word Marquess comes from the french marchis, mean ruler of a border area. Marchis was itself derived from marche – “frontier”, coming from the Latin marcha. Women holding a Marquessate in their own right and wives of a Marquess hold the title Marchioness.

The title of Marquess was first used in England in 1385, when Robert de Vere, the 9th Earl of Oxford was created Marquess of Dublin by King Richard II. Less than a year later, the title was revoked, and de Vere was created Duke of Ireland. In 1397, two additional marquessates – Dorset and Somerset – were granted to John Beaufort, the 1st Earl of somerset. These, two, were revoked two years later. It would be 1442 before the title of Marquess was granted again, and continued so until the 1930s. In total, 135 Marquessates have been created, consisting of 125 different titles. These include 1 woman created a Marchioness in her own right (a title which went extinct upon her death).

The Peerage of England (1385-1707)

  • 33 Marquessates created
  • 30 different titles
  • 1 Marchioness in her own right
  • 6 still extant

The Peerage of Scotland (1488-1707)

  • 23 Marquessates created
  • 22 different titles
  • 13 still extant

The Peerage of Great Britain (1707-1801)

  • 22 Marquessates created
  • 22 different titles
  • 8 still extant

The Peerage of Ireland (1642-1801-1825)

  • 24 Marquessates created
  • 19 different titles
  • 10 still extant

The Peerage of the United Kingdom (1801-present)

  • 33 Marquessates created
  • 32 different titles
  • 18 still extant

The most senior Marquess, known as The Premier Marquess of England, is the Marquess of Winchester whose title was created in 1551. He is also the only Marquess in the Peerage of England with no higher ranking Dukedom.

The last non-Royal Marquessate – Marquess of Willingdon – was granted in 1936. However, it became extinct in 1979. The last created, and still extant, is the Marquess of Reading, created in 1926.

Frederick, Prince of Wales. source: Wikipedia

The last Royal Marquessates were granted in 1726 by King George II to two of his sons:

  • Prince Frederick was created Duke of Edinburgh, Marquess of the Isle of Ely, Earl of Eltham, Viscount Launceston and Snowdon. Frederick later became Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay, and was the father of King George III. His titles passed to his son, and reverted to the crown upon his accession in 1760.
  • Prince William was created Duke of Cumberland, Marquess of Berkhamsted, Earl of Kennington, Viscount Trematon and Baron Alderney. These titles became extinct upon his death in 1765.

The Marquess of Milford Haven, formerly Prince Louis of Battenberg. source: Wikipedia

In addition, three Marquessates were created for relatives of the Royal Family in November 1917, when King George V asked his relatives to relinquish their German titles and styles:

Anne Boleyn, Queen of England. source: Wikipedia

There has only been one woman created a Marchioness in her own right:

Anne Boleyn (c1501-1536) – in preparation for her wedding to King Henry VIII, she was created Marchioness of Pembroke in her own right in an investiture ceremony held at Windsor Castle on September 1, 1532. The couple married several months later, and Anne was Queen of England until her beheading in 1536. The title was created with remainder to her “heirs male”, making it the first hereditary peerage granted to a woman. However, as she had no sons, the title became extinct upon her death.

Styles and Titles

  • A Marquess is styled The Most Honourable The Marquess of XX, and referred to as ‘My Lord’ or ‘Your Lordship’.
  • A Marchioness is styled The Most Honourable The Marchioness of XX, and referred to as ‘My Lady’ or ‘Your Ladyship’.
  • The eldest son of a Marquess traditionally uses his father’s most senior, but lower-ranking, subsidiary title as a courtesy title. (If the senior subsidiary title is similar to the name of the Marquessate, the next senior title is used). This is used without the article ‘The’ preceding it. For example, the eldest son of the Marquess of Milford Haven is styled ‘Earl of Medina’.
  • Younger sons and all daughters of a Marquess are styled as ‘Lord/Lady (first name) (surname)’. Example: Lady Tatiana Mountbatten is the daughter of The Marquess of Milford Haven.

LIST OF EXTANT DUKEDOMS, in order of creation:

PEERAGE OF ENGLAND
Marquess of Winchester
Marquess of Worcester  – subsidiary title of the Duke of Beaufort
Marquess of Tavistock  – subsidiary title of the Duke of Bedford
Marquess of Hartington – subsidiary title of the Duke of Devonshire
Marquess of Blandford – subsidiary title of the Duke of Marlborough
Marquess of Granby – subsidiary title of the Duke of Rutland

PEERAGE OF SCOTLAND
Marquess of Huntly
Marquess of Douglas – subsidiary title of the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon
Marquess of Clydesdale – subsidiary title of the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon
Marquess of Montrose – subsidiary title of the Duke of Montrose
Marquess of Atholl – subsidiary title of the Duke of Atholl
Marquess of Queensberry
Marquess of Dumfriesshire – subsidiary title of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry
Marquess of Tweeddale
Marquess of Kintyre and Lorne – subsidiary title of the Duke of Argyll
Marquess of Lothian
Marquess of Tullibardine – subsidiary title of the Duke of Atholl
Marquess of Graham and Buchanan – subsidiary title of the Duke of Montrose
Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford – subsidiary title of the Duke of Roxburghe

PEERAGE OF GREAT BRITAIN
Marquess of Lansdowne
Marquess of Stafford – subsidiary title of the Duke of Sutherland
Marquess Townshend
Marquess of Salisbury
Marquess of Bath
Marquess of Abercorn – subsidiary title of the Duke of Abercorn
Marquess of Hertford
Marquess of Bute

PEERAGE OF IRELAND
Marquess of Kildare – subsidiary title of the Duke of Leinster
Marquess of Waterford
Marquess of Downshire
Marquess of Donegall
Marquess of Headfort
Marquess of Sligo
Marquess of Ely
Marquess of Londonderry
Marquess Conyngham
Marquess of Hamilton – subsidiary title of the Duke of Abercorn

PEERAGE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Northampton
Marquess Camden
Marquess of Wellington – subsidiary title of the Duke of Wellington
Marquess Douro – subsidiary title of the Duke of Wellington
Marquess of Anglesey
Marquess of Cholmondeley
Marquess of Ailesbury
Marquess of Bristol
Marquess of Ailsa
Marquess of Westminster – subsidiary title of the Duke of Westminster
Marquess of Normanby
Marquess of Abergavenny
Marquess of Zetland
Marquess of Linlithgow
Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair
Marquess of Milford Haven
Marquess of Reading

Multiple Marquessate Holders
The Duke of Abercorn holds the Marquessates of Abercorn and Hamilton
The Duke of Atholl holds the Marquessates of Atholl and Tullibardine
The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon holds the Marquessates of Douglas and Clydesdale
The Duke of Wellington holds the Marquessates of Wellington and Douro

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Danish Royal Christenings

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

The Danish Royal Family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark sometimes called The Church of Denmark, the established, state-supported church in Denmark. The sovereign is the supreme secular authority in the church. Most recent Danish royal christenings have been held at the Holmens Kirke or the Fredensborg Palace Chapel.

Holmens Kirke; Credit – Wikipedia

The building that is now occupied by the Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen, Denmark was first used as a forge for anchors. In 1619, King Christian IV had it converted into a church for the naval personnel who were housed in the area. King Frederik IX had a career in the Royal Danish Navy and had a great love for the sea. Perhaps that was the reason his three children were christened at Holmens Kirke. His elder daughter and successor Queen Margrethe was also married there.

Fredensborg Palace; Credit – By Glån – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12668133

Fredensborg Palace is located in Fredensborg on the island of Zealand in Denmark.  Queen Margrethe II uses the palace for three months in the spring and three months in the autumn. It has always been considered a “family home” for the Danish royal family. During the reign of King Christian IX, his extended family gathered at Fredensborg each summer. Christian’s children included Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, King George I of Greece and his successor King Frederik VIII of Denmark.  He had 39 grandchildren and his grandsons included Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia, King Constantine I of Greece, King George V of the United Kingdom, King Christian X of Denmark and King Haakon VII of Norway. Over the years, numerous large family reunions were held at Fredensborg Palace with children, in-laws, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  The current Danish royal family continues the practice and it is a logical site for family christenings.

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Danish royal christening gown

It is interesting to note that among the godparents of Queen Margrethe II, who was born in 1940, is Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, her maternal great-grandfather, the son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The Duke of Connaught died in 1942 at the age of 91. His sister Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll also died at the age of 91, making both Arthur and Louise the longest-lived of Queen Victoria’s children.

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King Frederik IX of Denmark

Four generations of Danish Kings: Prince Frederik (IX) standing on the chair surrounded by (left to right) his great-grandfather King Christian IX, his father Prince Christian (X), his grandfather Crown Prince Frederik (VIII); Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Ingrid of Denmark, born Princess Ingrid of Sweden, wife of King Frederik IX

Ingrid on the right with her family at the christening of her brother Bertil; Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Margrethe of Denmark

(see below)

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Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Princess Benedikte on the left with her sisters Margrethe and Anne-Marie; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark, Queen of Greece

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King Christian X of Denmark and Queen Alexandrine who is holding Princess Anne-Marie and their grandchildren. From left, Prince Christian to the left of the queen, Princess Benedikte between the king and queen; in the back Princess Elisabeth, Prince Ingolf and Princess Margrethe

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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

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Margrethe and her parents

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King Frederik X of Denmark

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Crown Prince Christian of Denmark

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Crown Princess Mary holding her son as his father and godparents, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Princess Mett-Marit of Norway and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, look on

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Princess Isabella of Denmark

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Crown Princess Mary holds her daughter Princess Isabella while Crown Prince Frederik holds their son Prince Christian, with Isabella’s godparents from left: Major Peter Heering, Nadine Johnston, Maria Louise Skeel, Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark and Christian Buchwald

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Prince Vincent of Denmark

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Prince Josephine of Denmark

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Prince Joachim of Denmark

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Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Ludwig Hermann Alexander Chlodwig of Hesse and by Rhine (known as Lu) was the younger son of Ernst Ludwig, the last Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and his second wife Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. He was born in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in the German state of Hesse, on November 20, 1908. Ludwig was Head of the House of Hesse from 1937 – 1968.

Ludwig had one older brother:

Lu also had a half-sister, Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine (1895-1903), from his father’s first marriage to Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Elisabeth had died from typhoid fever several years before Lu’s birth.

Lu was educated privately at home, along with his brother, before attending and graduating from the Realgymnasium in 1926. He then studied archeology and art history at universities in Darmstadt, Lausanne, and Munich. After graduating, Lu served as an attaché at the German Embassy in London. During this time, he met his future wife, The Honorable Margaret Geddes, daughter of British diplomat Auckland Campbell Geddes,1st Baron Geddes and Isabella Gamble Ross, while she was on holiday in Bavaria.

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Lu and Peg became engaged while attending the 1936 Winter Olympic Games in Bavaria. The wedding was planned for Saturday, November 20, 1937 – Lu’s 29th birthday. However, a great tragedy would strike the House of Hesse and by Rhine just days before.

On November 16, 1937, Lu’s family boarded a plane bound for London to attend his wedding. The passengers included Lu’s mother, his brother Hereditary Grand Duke Georg Donatus of Hesse and by Rhine and wife, born Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark, and their two sons, as well as the children’s nurse and Baron Joachin Riedesel zu Eisenbach, who was to be Lu’s best man. The plane was scheduled to stop in Brussels, but bad weather forced the pilot to continue on to Ostend instead. While attempting to land, the plane clipped a chimney on a factory near the airport, causing the plane to break apart and crash. All aboard the plane, including the pilot and three crew members, were killed.

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After being notified of the tragedy, Lu and Peg, along with their families, decided that the wedding should take place immediately. They married quietly the following morning, November 17, 1937, at St. Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, London. Both wore black, and were joined by a small group of family and close friends. Guests included The Duke and Duchess of Kent; The Countess of Toerring-Jettenbach; The Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven (Lu’s paternal aunt); and the German Ambassador Joachim von Ribbentrop.

Lu, Peg and Johanna c1938; Credit – Wikipedia

Lu and his new wife traveled to Ostend to identify and accompany the bodies – by train – back to Darmstadt. Waiting for them was the only other surviving member of the Grand Ducal family, Don and Cecilie’s 14-month-old daughter Johanna who had not accompanied her parents on the trip to London. Lu and Peg adopted Johanna, but sadly she contracted meningitis and died shortly before reaching her third birthday.

At just 29 years old, Lu became the Head of the House of Hesse. He inherited Wolfsgarten, which would become his principal residence for the rest of his life. He was drafted for military service during World War II, but along with other members of former ruling houses, he was released due to the belief that they would be “politically unreliable”. He returned to Wolfsgarten where he was carefully watched due to his wife’s English background. Following the war, Lu and Peg devoted themselves to rebuilding Darmstadt. They worked to restore the museums, hospitals, and charitable institutions, and Lu co-founded the Institute for New Technical Form, the Council for Shaping, and the Bauhaus Archive. He also designed the German Pavilion for the 1958 World Expo in Brussels. An avid lover of classical music, he promoted the arts and music, including the Ansbach Festival and Aldeburgh Festival.

Because Lu and Peg never had children, in 1960 Lu adopted his distant cousin Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse. Moritz’s father became Head of the House of Hesse upon Lu’s death and was succeeded by Moritz in 1980, bringing the two branches of the Hesse line together again.

In 1964, he served as godfather for Prince Edward of the United Kingdom, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke’s sister had been married to Lu’s brother and Peg had become a close friend of The Queen.

Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine died in Frankfurt, Germany on May 30, 1968. Following his funeral on June 6, 1968, in the Darmstadt Stadtkirche in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany, he was buried near his parents and family in the Park Rosenhöhe (link in German) in Darmstadt where many members of the Hesse family are buried. He was survived by his wife Peg, who passed away in 1997 and is buried beside him.

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Belgian Royal Christenings

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

The Belgian Royal Family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.  Some Belgian christenings, including those of King Albert II and King Philippe, took place at the Church of Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg in the Place Royale, a historic square near the center of Brussels, Belgium. Perhaps the Belgian royal family is connected to the church because Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, stood on the church steps when he took the oath that made him Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians on July 21, 1831.

Church of Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg; Credit – By EmDee – Own work, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17166498

The christenings of the children of King Philippe all took place in the chapel at Ciergnon Castle in Houyet, Namur, Belgium. Ciergnon Castle is one of the favorite summer residences of the Belgian royal family.

Ciergnon Castle; Credit – By Paul Hermans – Own work, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24443117

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Albert II, King of the Belgians

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Albert being carried into the church for his christening. He is followed by his father and mother and then his elder sister and elder brother.
  • Unofficial Royalty: Albert II, King of the Belgians
  • Parents: King Leopold III and Queen Astrid, born Princess Astrid of Sweden
  • Born: June 6, 1934, at Stuyvenberg Castle in Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
  • Christened: June 1934 at the Church of Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg in Brussels, Belgium
  • Names: Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Christian Eugène Marie. He was given the name Albert in honor of his grandfather Albert I, King of the Belgians who was killed in a mountain climbing accident on February 17, 1934, four months before his birth. When Albert was only 14 months old, his mother was killed in a car accident.
  • Godparents:
  • King Albert II abdicated in favor of his son Philippe on July 21, 2013.

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Philippe, King of the Belgians

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Philippe is being held by a midwife as his godparents former King Leopold III of Belgium (left) and Luisa Ruffo di Calabria, look on

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Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant

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Elisabeth with her parents at her christening

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Prince Gabriel of Belgium

Gabriel’s mother holding him during his christening; Credit – Hello

  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince Gabriel of Belgium
  • Parents: Philippe, King of the Belgians and Queen Mathilde, born Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz
  • Born: August 20, 2003, in Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Belgium
  • Christened: October 25, 2003, at Ciergnon Castle in Houyet, Namur, Belgium
  • Names: Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie
  • Godparents:
    • Baroness Maria Christina von Freyberg, his second cousin
    • Count Charles-Henri d’Udekem d’Acoz, his maternal uncle

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Prince Emmanuel of Belgium

Emmanuel with his parents and godparents at his christening; Credit – http://www.corbisimages.com

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Princess Eléonore of Belgium

Eléonore, held by her mother, with her father and godparents; Photo: Zimbio

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British Royal Christenings: House of Tudor

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

This article does not contain christening information for some Tudors because the information is unknown and/or some children died young.

King Henry VII of England, born Henry Tudor

Credit – Wikipedia

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Elizabeth of York, Queen of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots

Credit – Wikipedia

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King Henry VIII of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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Mary Tudor, Queen of France, Duchess of Suffolk

Mary Tudor & her second husband Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk; Credit – Wikipedia

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Henry, Duke of Cornwall

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Queen Mary I of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Elizabeth I of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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King Edward VI of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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British Royal Christenings: House of Stuart

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

This article does not contain christening information for some Stuarts because the information is unknown and many children died young.

King James I of England/James VI, King of Scots

Credit – Wikipedia

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Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

  • Unofficial Royalty: Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
  • Parents: King James I, then James VI, King of Scots, and Anne of Denmark
  • Born: February 19, 1594, at Stirling Castle in Stirling; styled from birth Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles, the traditional titles for the heir apparent to the Scots throne
  • Christened: August 30, 1594, at the Chapel Royal at Stirling Castle
  • Names: Henry Frederick after his grandfathers, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and King Frederik II of Denmark
  • Died: November 6, 1612, probably of typhoid fever

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Elizabeth Stuart, Electress Palatine

Credit – Wikipedia

  • Unofficial Royalty: Elizabeth Stuart, Electress Palatine
  • Parents: King James I, then James VI, King of Scots, and Anne of Denmark
  • Born: August 19, 1596, at Falkland Palace in Fife, Scotland
  • Christened: November 28, 1596, in the Chapel Royal at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Died: February 13, 1662
  • Elizabeth was the mother of Sophia, Electress of Hanover who was the mother of King George I, the first king from the House of Hanover

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King Charles I of England

Credit – Wikipedia

  • Unofficial Royalty: King Charles I of England (also Charles I, King of Scots)
  • Parents: King James I, then James VI, King of Scots, and Anne of Denmark
  • Born: November 19, 1600, at Dunfermline Palace in Fife, Scotland
  • Christened: December 23, 1600, in the Chapel Royal at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Died: beheaded January 30, 1649

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Mary Stuart

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King Charles II of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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Mary, Princess Royal, Princess of Orange

Credit – Wikipedia

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King James II of England

James and his siblings in 1637: Left to right: Mary, James, Charles, Elizabeth, and Anne; Credit – Wikipedia

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Elizabeth Stuart

Elizabeth on the left holding her sister Anne; Credit – Wikipedia

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Anne Stuart
see portraits above

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Henry, Duke of Gloucester

Credit – Wikipedia

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Henrietta Stuart, Duchess of Orléans

Credit – Wikipedia

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Charles Stuart, Duke of Cambridge 

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Queen Mary II of England

Mary, on the left, with her parents and her sister Anne; Credit – Wikipedia

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King William III of England, Willem III, Prince of Orange

Credit – Wikipedia

  • Unofficial Royalty: King William III of England (also William II, King of Scots)
  • Parents: Mary, Princess Royal and Willem II, Prince of Orange
  • Born: November 4, 1650, at Binnenhof in The Hague, Dutch Republic
  • William was the only child of Mary, Princess Royal, eldest daughter of King Charles I. His father died at age 24 of smallpox eight days before William’s birth, so from birth, William was the sovereign Prince of Orange. He married his first cousin Mary, the eldest daughter of King James II
  • Christened: January 21, 1651, at the Grote Kerk (Great Church) in The Hague, Dutch Republic
  • Names: his mother wanted to name him Charles after her beheaded father but her mother-in-law insisted on the traditional House of Orange names Willem Hendrik
  • Died: March 8, 1702

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James, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Anne of Great Britain

Anne, in between her parents, with her sister Mary; Credit – Wikipedia

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Charles Stuart, Duke of Kendal

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Edgar Stuart, Duke of Cambridge

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Queen Anne’s obstetrical history is tragic. She had 17 pregnancies with only five children being born alive. Two died on the day of their birth, two died at less than two years old within six days of each other from smallpox, and one died at age 11. Below is the christening information for the three children who survived infancy,

The Lady Mary

  • Parents: The Lady Anne, the future Queen Anne and Prince George of Denmark
  • Born: June 2, 1685, at the Palace of Whitehall in London, England
  • Christened: June 2, 1685, at the Palace of Whitehall in London, England
  • Died: February 8, 1687, from smallpox

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The Lady Anne Sophia

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Prince William, Duke of Gloucester

William in the robes of the Order of the Garter, Credit – Wikipedia

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British Royal Christenings: House of Hanover

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

For christenings of Queen Victoria’s children, her grandchildren who were born British princes and princess, and her other children who were christened in the United Kingdom see Christenings of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Their Children, and Select Grandchildren.

There is no christening information on King George I, his children King George II and Sophia Dorothea, and the first four children of King George II. All of them were born in Hanover and were most likely christened at Schloss Herrenhausen in Hanover.

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King George I, born Georg Ludwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg

King George I as a young army officer; Credit – Wikipedia

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CHILDREN OF KING GEORGE I

King George II, born Georg August of Brunswick-Lüneburg

George II, in the middle, with his mother and sister Sophia Dorothea; Credit – Wikipedia

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Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, Queen of Prussia
(see portrait above)

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CHILDREN OF KING GEORGE II

Frederick, Prince of Wales, born Friedrich Ludwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Credit – Wikipedia

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Anne, Princess Royal, Princess of Orange, born Anne of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Anne, Amelia and Caroline, 1721; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Amelia of Great Britain, born Amelia of Brunswick-Lüneburg
(see portrait above)

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Princess Caroline of Great Britain, born Caroline of Brunswick-Lüneburg
(see portrait above)

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Prince George William of Great Britain

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince William, Duke of Cumberland

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Mary of Great Britain, Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Louisa of Great Britain, Queen of Denmark

Credit – Wikipedia

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CHILDREN AND OF FREDERICK, PRINCE OF WALES

Princess Augusta of Wales, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Augusta, on the right, with her brothers George and Edward; Credit – Wikipedia

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King George III of the United Kingdom, born Prince George of Wales

George, on the right, with his brother Edward and their tutor Francis Ayscough; Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Edward, Duke of York, born Prince Edward of Wales
(see portrait above)

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Princess Elizabeth of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, born Prince William Henry of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Sophia of Gloucester, daughter of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Caroline of Gloucester, daughter of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester

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Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester, son of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester

William and his sister Sophia, 1779; Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland, born Prince Henry of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Louisa of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Frederick of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Caroline Matilda of Denmark, born Princess Caroline Matilda of Wales

Caroline Matilda with her mother; Credit – Wikipedia

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CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF KING GEORGE III

King George IV of the United Kingdom, born George, Prince of Wales

George (left) with his mother and brother Frederick; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of the future King George IV

Charlotte with her mother; Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Frederick, Duke of York

Frederick on the left with his mother and his brother George; Credit – Wikipedia

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King William IV of the United Kingdom, William, Duke of Clarence

William (left) and his younger brother Edward, 1778; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Elizabeth of Clarence, daughter of the future King William IV

Recumbent effigy of Princess Elizabeth of Clarence in the Grand Corridor of Windsor Castle, Credit – Wikipedia

  • Wikipedia: Princess Elizabeth of Clarence
  • Parents: Prince William, Duke of Clarence, the future King William IV and Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
  • Born: December 10, 1820, at St James’ Palace in London, England, six weeks prematurely
  • Christened: December 10, 1820, at St James’ Palace in London, England
  • Names: Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide
  • Godparents:
  • Died: March 4, 1821, of the then inoperable condition of a strangulated hernia. During her short life, Elizabeth was ahead of her cousin, the future Queen Victoria, in the line of succession.

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Charlotte, Princess Royal, Queen of Württemberg

Queen Charlotte with Charlotte, Princess Royal; Credit – Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016

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Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, born Princess Victoria of Kent, daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Victoria with her mother; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Augusta of the United Kingdom

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg

Credit – Wikipedia

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Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover, Duke of Cumberland

Credit – Wikipedia

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George V, King of Hanover, born Prince George of Cumberland, son of Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover, Duke of Cumberland

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Augustus, Duke of Sussex

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, son of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Augusta of Cambridge, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Duchess of Teck, daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Mary of the United Kingdom, Duchess of Gloucester

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Sophia of the United Kingdom

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Octavius of Great Britain

Credit – Wikipedia

Note: Prince Octavius is “of Great Britain” because it was not until 1801, after his death, that his father’s title changed to “of the United Kingdom.”

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Prince Alfred of Great Britain

Credit – Wikipedia

Note: Prince Alfred is “of Great Britain” because it was not until 1801, after his death, that his father’s title changed to “of the United Kingdom.”

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Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom

Credit – Wikipedia

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Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine; Credit – Wikipedia

Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine was the elder son of the last reigning Grand Duke, Ernst Ludwig, and his second wife, Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. He was born in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in the German state of Hesse, on November 8, 1906, and had one younger brother:

Georg Donatus also had a half-sister, Elisabeth, from his father’s first marriage to Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Princess Elisabeth was born in 1895 and died of typhoid fever in 1903, three years before Georg Donatus was born.

At his christening on December 4, 1906, he was given the names Wilhelm Nikolaus Eduard Heinrich Karl in honor of his godparents – Wilhelm II, German Emperor, Nicholas II, Emperor of All of Russia, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Prince Heinrich of Prussia and Prince Karl of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. Within the family, he was known by the name ‘Don’.

Georg Donatus and his brother Ludwig, c1911. source: Wikipedia

Don and his brother – known as ‘Lu’ – were raised at the family’s various homes in Hesse – the Neue Palais in Darmstadt (link in German), Schloss Wolfsgarten and Schloss Romrod (link in German). They were raised by English nannies, until the outbreak of World War I. By that time, Don was receiving private lessons in German and literature from Anna Textor, who ran a private school for English girls in Darmstadt, and had been the teacher of the future Empress Alexandra of Russia. After the fall of the German Empire, Don’s father was deposed in 1918. The family continued to live at the Neues Palais in Darmstadt, where Don continued his studies privately, before attending the Realgymnasium, graduating in 1926. He then studied economics at the University of Giessen, the University of Lausanne, and the University of Munich, earning his Ph.D. from Giissen in 1933.

Cecilie and Georg Donatus on their wedding day; Credit – Wikipedia

On February 2, 1931, Don married Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark. She was the daughter of Prince Andreas of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. Through her mother, Cecilie and Don were first cousins once removed. They married in a Greek Orthodox ceremony at the Neues Palais Palace and in a Lutheran ceremony at the castle church. Following their honeymoon, they took up residence in a newly purchased home in Darmstadt, and had three children:

  • Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine (1931-1937) – died in a plane crash with his parents
  • Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine (1933-1937) – died in a plane crash with his parents
  • Princess Johanna of Hesse and by Rhine (1936-1939) – died from meningitis

Don became head of the family upon his father’s death on October 9, 1937. However, as the throne no longer existed, he did not assume the title of Grand Duke. Despite the formal mourning, it was decided that  Don’s brother Lu would marry The Honorable Margaret Geddes in England as scheduled for the following month. On November 16, 1937, Don, his wife Cecilie, their two sons Ludwig and Alexander, and his mother, Grand Duchess Eleonore, boarded a flight for London to attend Lu’s wedding. Tragically, the plane crashed in Belgium, and all aboard were killed.

Lu’s wedding took place immediately, and then he and his new wife flew to Belgium to accompany the remains of the family back to Darmstadt. Following their funeral which was held a few days later, Hereditary Grand Duke Georg Donatus and his family were buried in the Rosenhöhe in Darmstadt, Hesse Germany. Don’s daughter Johanna, who had not been on the plane, was adopted by his brother Lu. Sadly, she died in June 1939 after contracting meningitis.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.